Disney Cruise Line’s Treasure Tomorrow programme supports career exploration for Caribbean students in maritime and hospitality fields across ports visited by the ‘Disney Treasure’.
The cruise line launched this initiative to expand its commitment to creating lasting, positive impacts in the port communities throughout the Caribbean and supports career exploration programmes for students in each port the ‘Disney Treasure’ visits.
“Disney Cruise Line is proud to invest in youth programming that positively impacts the Caribbean communities we visit all year long,” said Joey Gaskins, Regional Public Affairs Director, The Bahamas and Caribbean, Disney Cruise Line.
“We believe empowering young minds today builds a more resilient tomorrow, driving innovation and opportunity for generations to come.”
In Tortola, the Youth Empowerment Project (YEP) is a non-profit initiative that engages students from high schools across the British Virgin Islands in community-based mentoring, employment readiness and enrichment programmes.
YEP’s Learning, Earning and Advancing Dreams (LEAD) workforce programme provides an opportunity for high school students to learn about careers in hospitality, tourism and culinary arts.
While the ‘Disney Treasure’ was recently berthed in Tortola, YEP high school students visited the ship to meet crew members and officers and learn about their career paths and roles on board.
During the ship tour, some students expressed interest in becoming a ship’s Master, like ‘Disney Treasure’s’ Capt Marco Nogara, who met the students, shared his experiences and gave insights about the maritime industry.
Meanwhile, the ship’s Executive Chef, Goran Milinic, took the students on a behind-the-scenes galley tour at Plaza de Coco, one of rotational dining restaurants on board.
On another island, Friends of Virgin Islands National Park in St Thomas, USVI work to protect the unique resources of Virgin Islands National Park.
Through its School Kids in the Park (SKIP) programme, ‘Disney Treasure’s’ crew will soon work with students to patrol beaches for sea turtle activity during nesting season, fostering conservation awareness.
As part of Treasure Tomorrow, Disney Cruise Line is also sponsoring a Junior Achievement career exploration programme focused on different aspects of maritime and hospitality businesses.
In Georgetown, Grand Cayman, students visited the ‘Disney Treasure’ early last month to learn first hand about careers in the maritime, creative and entertainment industries.
During their time on board, the students met Chief Security Officer, Ryan Miller, who explained how Disney Cruise Line and worldwide ports work together to create a safe, seamless and enjoyable experience for guests.
Assistant Cruise Director, David Hunt also joined the students to talk about his career path.
“It means a lot to me to share my journey and experiences with students who are interested in pursuing a career at sea.
“Before I joined Disney Cruise Line, I didn’t know about all of the incredible opportunities available to me, so being able to help guide and advise the next generation is exciting,” Hunt said.
Throughout the school year, Disney Cruise Line also partnered with Junior Achievement Jamaica to host weekly virtual sessions for high school students show casing a variety of shipboard and shoreside roles on the ‘Disney Treasure’.
Following the virtual sessions, the students went on board the ship and met with the Disney crew members that they had been learning from virtually.
“We are grateful for this collaboration with Disney Cruise Line. Our students were so excited to step aboard the Disney Treasure and see first-hand the types of career opportunities that await them in the future,” said Callia Smith-Harriott, Executive Director, Junior Achievement Jamaica.
“I believe this experience with the Disney Cruise Line team will help drive home the skills we teach in this programme”.
